Lubricant dispensing cabinet with elevators for plurality of pumps and vertically sliding front panel



`Ian. 30, 1951 A. P. Fox E'rAL 2,539,615

LUBRICANT DISPENSING CABINET WITH ELEvAToRs FOR PLURALITY oF PUMPSVAND VERTICALLY SLIDTNG FRONT PANEL Filed June 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4L 2f H 89 Jan. 30, 1951 A. P. Fox ETAL 2,539,615

LUBRoANT nxsPENsING CABINET wm ELEvAToRs FOR PLURALITY 0F PUMPS AND VERTICALLY SLIDING FRONT PANEL Filed June 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, 1951 A. P. Fox ETAL 2,539,615

LUBRICANT DISPENSING CABINET WITH ELEvAToRs FOR PLURALITY oF PUMPS AND VERTICALLY SLIDING FRONT PANEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented `lan. 30, 195.1`

LUBRECANT DISPENSING CABINET WITH ELEVATORS FOR PLURALTY OF PUMPS AND VERTICALL'Y SLIDING FRONT PANEL Alexander P. Fox, University City, andidugust D.

Reisert, St. Louis, Mo., assignors toLincoln'Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,498

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates te lubricant dispensers, and with regard to certain more specific features, to a cabinet type of dispenser operating in connection with commercial lubricant drums.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a safe and convenient lubricant dispenser construction comprising a cabinet for enclosing automatic lubricator .pumps and commercial lubricant containers from which the pumps draw their lubricant supply for delivery to distribution lines with or without metering oi the lubricant; the provision of a construction oi the class described in which the sofcalled lance-type pumps which are yein-- ployed can conveniently be placed in elevated positions for removal of empty containers and for replacement by full ones; and the provision of apparatus of this class which may conveniently be opened for reloading and which when closed presents a neat and compact appearance. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination of elements, features of construction, and arrangements f parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the apparatus in open position, ready for exchange of filled for empty lubricant container drums;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the apparatus, parts being shown in elevation, and the containers being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and showing a door in initial partially open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of upper portions of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on lines 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the partially open door of Fig. 4, being viewed from line 8 8 of Fig. 9 but being on a smaller scale than the latter figure;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of certain container cover parts; and,

Fig. ll is a diagrammatic hydraulic circuit layout.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The so-called lance type of lubricant pump consists of an elongate pump cylinder in which is a recvrocatins piston Operated by a motive unit ed on the. upper end 0f the cylinder. The intake 11S at the bottom end of the pump cylinder and. the outlet at its top. The motive unit vbe an electric motor or an air engine. The device is for insertion into a commercial or like lubricant container from which lubricant is to be pumped. The apparatus may be inserted into the container through its open top or a hole at'the top. rlypical examples are shown in the `following United States patents; 1,925,832; 2,122,020;- alamoafi; 2,215,852; 2*,26937273; 2,298,- 92(4); and others. These form a desirable class of pump, but it is diiiicult to make a replace,- ment of a full container for an empty one, parti.- cularly whenthe pump is to be stored, along with its container', in a cabinet, and more particularly when `several pumps and several containers are so to be stored. A'diiiiculty that arises is the handling `of the pump while container exchange is being made. This is particularly true when the pump is to be organized with a metering system.

By means of the present invention, a convenient cabinet arrangement is provided for containing several pumps and several containers in a cabinet with provision for convenient means for holding the pumps in suitable positions when container exchanges are to be made. Furthermore, the pumps are left in association with a hydraulic dispensing and metering system that forms part of the cabinet'thusavoiding troublesome conngelg and diseemecting problems. In addition, the Cabine@ Bls si?? .arranged for maximum convenienoe and safety in opening and closing the same while Container exchanges are made.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1,-4, there is shown atl numeral l in general a covering Cabinet which, when closed, presents an attractive appearance (Fig. 2.). This cabinet has end Walls .3, a rear Wall 5 and a front Well, I in which is an ripening 9 (Figa 1 and 4), Surmountins the. Walls', 5 and 'I is a Lframe Il, The parts I and Il are notched., as Shown .at Zand 4, .for the reception of a .110W meter panel 6, lthe latter heine attached@ the member i- This panel carries two iloW meters I0 and l2.

The frame has a rectangular top opening I3 on the rear edge of which are endwise hinges I5 for a cover` I1. The bottom of the cabinet is formed by supporting channel bars i9. These support lubricant containers shown at C, a threecontainer size being illustrated. At two points between the container locations are carried crossbars 2|. These carry pivots 23 for the lower heads 24 of pneumatic elevator cylinders 21. Air inlets are shown at 25|v with which are connected air leads 3|. These leads are sufliciently flexible to permit limited pivotal movement of the cylinders. They may be of copper tubing, if desired. The cylinders pass loosely through guide openings 33 or^ a rigid bridge member 25. The bridge member extends lengthwise within the cabinet, being supported at its ends 35 on vertical columns 31 which form part of the structural skeleton for the enclosing Walls. The elevation of the bridge v25 above the supports I9 is sufficient for lateral acceptance through opening 9 of the containers C.

Within the cylinders 21 are pistons 39- having piston rods 4I slidable through the closed upper ends 43 of the cylinders. Outside, the rods 4I are attached to a crosshead 45, which extends a substantial distance throughout the length of the cabinet. The rod connections for this purpose are shown at 41. Supported on the crosshead 45 by other connections 49 are pneumatic engines 5| with which are organized in the usual way depending lance-pump cylinders 53. These cylinders pass through suitable openings in the bridge 25. By introducing air into the cylinders 21 through lines 3|, the pistons 39 are raised, thus raising the crosshead 45. This lifts the engines 5| and pump cylinders 53. 'I'he action is limited by stop cylinders 51, carried around the piston rods 4| within the cylinders 21, so that the lower ends 59 of the cylinders 53 move to an elevation just above covers 6| for the containers C, but not through the openings 55 in the bridge. A spring bumper 63 is attached centrally to the crosshead 45 for the purpose of automatically pushing open the cover |1 when the pumps are lifted. The cover I1 is never locked down, so that there is no chance of attempting to effect a lift against ya closed cover. When the pumps are depressed,

the cover is closed by hand and maintains its closed position under gravity.

It will be seen that, if desired, the cover I1 could be carried on and have translation with the crosshead 45. While this is a feasible construction, the construction shown, wherein the cover I1 is hinged to the cabinet, is superior. This is because the hinged cover opens automatically upon elevating the pumps, but is not closed automatically as it would be if the cover were carried on the crosshead 45. The superiority rests in the fact that it becomes impossible for an operator accidentally to have his hand under the cover when it is being automatically closed, as would be the case if the cover were carried on the crosshead. With the construction shown, he manually closesthe cover I1 after the parts are in retracted positions. However, in its broader aspects the invention includes any cover which automatically opens in response to pump elevator operation, whether or not the cover is automatically closable.

An advantage of the lift construction specified is that, although the lower ends of the pumps may be lifted clear of the containers in the cabinet, they are steadied by the bridge 25 in their elevated positions. The elevators, consisting of the parts 21, 39 and 4|, are also steadied by the bridge 25, although they are only pivoted at 23 to the supports 2|. Thus all the sliding, elevating parts are su'iciently guided without requiring excessive accuracy of guiding and guided parts.

Fig. l0 shows a detail of one of the covers 5I, which comprises two semicircular halves 55 carrying slots 61 and cooperating catches 69 with central openings 1|. The edges of the parts 65 rest on the upper ends of the containers and the openings 1| accommodate the pump cylinders 53. These covers are removed when an exchange of containers is made.

On thercrosshead 45 is carried a manifold pipe 13 which supplies air to the air pumps 5| through iiexible hose connections 15 (Fig. ll). This pipe 13 is supplied with air by a flexible hose 11 leading from a rigid pipe 19, part of which is on the bridge 25. Pipe 19 supplies air to the cylinders 21 through said flexible hose connections 3i. Pipe 19 is supplied with air from a line 95, regulator 91, gage 98, hose IUI and a coupler |92. Pipe 19 includes hand control valves 3| and 83 on opposite sides of the connection with hose 11. The controls for valves 8| and 83 pass through one end of the frame as shown in Fig. 2, so they may be reached from the outside. By cont-rolling valve 8|, air may be supplied or cut o from the entire system. By controlling valve 83, the air supply to the lift cylinders is controlled. It should be noted in this connection that air is only intermittently required for lifting purposes, but it is potentially required at all times for the pumps 5|, which are the full-stroke variety. These stop automatically when the lubricant pressure in the pump cylinders 53 builds up to a predetermined point. When this' pressure reduces, as by a demand for lubricant at outlet lines 85, 81 or 89, the pumps automatically start. This is clear from said patents.

The outlet line 81 extends to the bottom of the cabinet for connection with a distribution pipe 93 shown in Fig. 11 but not in Fig. 1. The outlet lines 85 and 89 extend to meters I0 and I2, respectively. Lines I 4 and I5, respectively, from these meters pass to the bottom of the cabinet. At theilI lower ends, the lines I 4 and I6 are connected to the two other distribution pipes 9,3 shown in Fig. il but not in Fig. 1. The distribution pipes 93 may extend under or over the floor upon which the cabinet rests. The inlet pipe 95 may also extend to the cabinet overor under-ground. It will be understood that pipes 93 and 95 are not parts of the dispenser per se, but are furnished separately for the installation of the dispenser. The lubricant in lines 85 and 89 may be of the flowing type, which is to be metered, and the lubricant from the line 31 of more viscous type, such as grease, which is not metered. The dials of the meters I0 and I2 may be read from the front of the cabinet.

The opening 9 is covered by a door indicated generally at I 03. This door comprises a panel |95 carrying a lift rail |01 and pivoted at lower pivots |99 on brackets located at the lower corners of the opening 9. The pivots are not directly upon the panel |05 per se but are carried upon the lower ends of side bars IIS associated with the panel. nel-shaped, as shown in Fig. 9. Welded to them are outwardly facing channel portions ||5 With-- The bars 3 are chanim which, slidey portions, al1-:intermediate tele- .|.5. and.l the. door channels. |49, may slide on.. the members |41... Thus; thereiga swinging arrange-V ment. of the, panel.-Y |05.. on telescopin-gE side. bar constructions.A which. are pivoted.` at, the lower corners of the opening-9 Whenthe. door. |103.. is... shut, thumb.- nuts |..2 carried.. in; the4 panel. |.05.may be. threadinglyen,- gagedwith screws |23 carriedaontheflower edge member. |25..of the. partl... This,.locks1shutthe. panel.. When. these. thumb: nuts, are. disengaged, the` door.l is biased outward.. a. limited. amount' as shown in. Fig. 8.. The limited' pivotal. opening is brought. about.. byY means, of they construction shown in Figs. 4. and.,9,.A One constructionmay .be used at each panel side, but only oneis described,- for, brevity.. Each construction consist-s of a. bracket |21 carried, on the frame of the cabinet. Ears |29, having openings therein, accommodate a keyed guide pin. |3|t upon which rides a slide member |33 to.. which is. bolted a memberA |35'. TheV latter is attached to the upper end of one of the channel bars H3. A spring |3'l biasesthe parts |33, |35 and the upper ends of ||3. to push the panel outward when un-y locked.v at` 2|, |23. As indicated, the.,` biasing constructionmay be duplicated.l on eachxside; of the. opening, in connection, withV eaclr; pivotal ban ||.3`.

In order to open the panelas.shown in-.Eigg 1f, it. is provided at the bottom... with interior brackets |39 in which are sliding pins |4| biased by springs |43 toward the channels ||3. Openings |45 (Fig. 8) toward the upper ends of the channels ||3 accept the biased pin |4| in an elevated position of the panel |05. Thus the panel may be lifted and held in raised position. Only one holding structure is shown (Fig. 9) since the other one on the opposite side is a duplicate.

Short levers |41 located on the lower edges of the door and pivoted at |49 cooperate with keys |5| on the pins |4| to retract them from the openings |45. When the door is up, these levers. |41 can be reached for manipulation to retract the pins. Then the door may be allowed to gravitate downward, as the bars ||5, and I9 telescope together. Then the door may be pushed in from the Fig. 8 position to the Eig. 2 position, the thumb nuts |2| being applied to the screws |23 for permanent closure.

The door construction described has the advantage that there is never any necessity for swinging the panel over a large sweep area. With the door construction used, the telescoping channels act as pivoted vertical guides so that the door panel may be either placed in closed position or angled forward slightly, the latter preparatory to lifting the panel. When the panel is lifted, it takes up head room only of the amount required in any event for the elevator crosshead 45. In addition, the trajectory of the panel is clear of the protuberances associated with the meter panel 6 (note Figs. 2 and 4).

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions Without departing f-remfA the scopey of the invention, it is intended that'` alllmatter; contained in the above description or'showin-ini the accompanying, drawings shall.y be interpreted as illustrative and notin alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. Lubrication apparatus comprising. an ene closing cabinet having a rectangular vertical. access opening, asubstantially vertical panel for closing said opening, said panel comprising tele` scoping upwardly extending side; barspivoted. at. their lower ends to the lower corners of said.

, when swung. in toward the.. cabinet from said;

angled position.

3. Lubrication. apparatus comp,risingv an.. en.-.- closing cabinet having,A a.. rectangular vertical, access opening, an. essentially, vertical, panchina l. closing ysaid,opening,saidpanel. comprising tele-.

scoping upwardly extending. sid-e. barspivoted at., their lowerY ends to the` lower corners` of. said.- open/ing, an.. element.. liniitedly-I biasing'j forward theV top of; the panel.. a rst.. releasable. locking` f element for holding the panel shut, againstthe.

` bias, thepanel. being slidableby meansoi said telescopingsidje bars, anda secondreleasablelocl, element operable from the panel; whereby the latter may, be locked' man. upper position relative to the side bars or droppedv to its biased* position.

4. Apparatus made according to claim 3 in which said rst locking element is operative from the top of the panel and the second locking element is operative from its bottom.

5. A lubricant dispenser comprising a cabinet having a vertical front opening and a horizontal top opening, a bottom support for the reception of exchangeable lubricant containers adapted to be spaced from one another in the cabinet, an interior bridge construction above said containers, cylinder elevators pivoted to said bottom support between the containers and having portions passing loosely through said bridge but being steadied thereby, a crosshead carried by 'the elevators, lance pumps depending from the crosshead and passing movably through the bridge into and out of the containers, a cover for said horizontal opening which is openable by a part of the crosshead upon elevation to lift the pumps from the cabinet when their lower ends are retracted from the containers, a closure panel for said front opening including upwardly extending telescoping side bars pivoted to the lower corners of the vertical opening, and mechanism determining limited swinging opening movement of said panel on said pivots, whereby the panel may be moved upward by telescoping movement of said bars to clear the panel from the front opening for the removal and reception of the containers.

6. A lubricant dispenser comprising an enclosing cabinet having a front opening for the recaption of at least one lubricant container within the cabinet, and having a top opening, an elevator in the cabinet including a lifting element from astanti which a pump is suspended for insertion into and retraction from said container, a cover for said top opening engaged by a part of said lift element automatically to be opened when the pump is lifted from the container, the pump being moved through said top opening when elevated to clear the container for replacement of the latter, an openable panel for said front opening, said panel comprising telescoping upwardly extending side bars pivoted at their lower ends to the lower corners of said front opening of the cabinet, an element limitedly biasing forward the top of the panel, and locking elements for holding the panel shut against the bias when desired, the panel being movable up and down by means of said telescoping side bars.

7. A lubricant dispenser comprising an enclosing cabinet having a front opening for the reception of at least one lubricant container within the cabinet, and having a top opening, an elevator in the cabinet including a lifting element from which a pump is suspended for insertion into and retraction from said container, a cover for said top opening engaged by a part of said lift element automatically to be opened when the pump is lifted from the container, the pump being moved through said top opening when elevated to clear the container for replacement of the latter, an openable panel for said front opening, said panel comprising telescoping upwardly extending side bars pivoted at their lower ends to the lower corners of said front opening of the cabinet, an element limitedly biasing forward the top of the panel, locking elements for holding the panel shut against the bias when desired, the panel being movable up and down by means of said telescoping side bars, and releasable lock elements operable from the lower edge of the panel whereby the panel may be locked in an upper position relative to the side bars or dropped to a closing position.

8 8. Lubricant dispensing apparatus comprising an enclosing cabinet having a front opening and a bottom support for the interchangeable reception of spaced lubricant containers, a bridge construction within the cabinet above the containers, air lifts fastened to the bottom support and extending through said bridge, an upper crosshead carried by said lifts, lance pumps suspended from said crosshead and extending downward through said bridge, said cabinet having an upper opening, said crosshead and suspended pumps being vertically movable through said top opening by means of said lifts, the lower ends of said pumps being movable from lowel` positions in the containers to elevated positions clear of the containers but not above the bridge, pivots for the elevators at their lower ends to the bottom support, and vertically movable piston-operated rods in the cylinders, said cylinders being located between the containers, and said pumps alternating in positions respective to the lifts and being substantially centered with respect to the containers.

ALEXANDER P. FOX.

AUGUST D. REISERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,105,990 Schultz et al Jan. 18, 1938 2,105,991 Schultz et a1 Jan. 18, 1938 2,120,327 Elsaesser June 14, 1938 2,212,749 Pelcuch Aug. 27, 1940 2,236,095 Ginter Mar. 25, 1941 2,335,401 Fine Nov. 30, 1943 

